Accra, May 29, GNA - The Most Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana on Tuesday launched a training manual for Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) on Stigmatisation against Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and called on religious groups not to judge PLWHAs as being promiscuous. He explained that most PLWHAs had the virus not out of promiscuity but through the other means of transmission, adding, "With the series of awareness creation and education, stigmatisation should be a thing of the past".

Most Rev. Aboagye Mensah who launched the manual together with Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam and Maulvi Wahab Adam, Ameer and Missionary In-charge of Ahmadiya Mission said Ghana was among the few countries in the world which had involved religious leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

He entreated the various religious groups to engage the communities by using the training manual, which will facilitate the training of members in addressing the stigma and discrimination meted against PLWHAs.

The development of the training manual formed part of the National HIV Stigma Reduction Campaign; dubbed "Who are You to Judge", which was launched in January this year with the training of 19 artists over 50 artworks reflecting their own imaginations of how to fight stigma related to HIV/AIDS.

The campaign was jointly organised by the Ghana Health Service, Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace, Ghana Sustainable Change Project and USAID.

Dr Nii Akwei Addo, Programme Manger of the National AIDS Control Programme who gave an overview of the Campaign in Ghana said the Stop AIDS Love Life, which was the first attempt was very successful and received by all but Compassion, which was the second, took off so well "but unfortunately, could not be sustained".

He noted that aside the two successful campaigns, stigma still remained in the society, making it difficult for PLWHAs to publicly own up and others who have not checked their status feeling reluctant to do so and "this is not helping in the fight".

Dr Addo pleaded with all to embrace the Stigma campaign with zeal with everybody playing a role to root out stigma and discrimination from the society.

Representatives from the Ghana Pentecostal Council, Seventh Day Adventists Church and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana commended the organisers for developing the training manual and pledged their support in the fight against HIV stigma. The Foundation for Contemporary Art presented a cheque for 14.5 million cedis to the National Association of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS as its support. 29 May 07